Canadian accused of work for Iraq appears in court

The Associated Press

A Canadian citizen accused of working for Saddam Hussein's intelligence service made an initial appearance Wednesday in federal court in Baltimore.

Mouyad Mahmoud Darwish (MOO-yahd mah-MOOD DAHR'-wish) did not enter a plea. The 47-year-old native of Iraq is charged with conspiracy to act as an agent for a foreign government and making false statements, each of which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Darwish was arrested Dec. 24 while entering the United States at Buffalo, N.Y.

According to an indictment, Darwish provided information to the Iraqi Intelligence Service and lied about his work for the Iraqi government when he applied for permanent resident status in the United States.

Prosecutors said Darwish was living in Maryland at the time of the alleged offenses, which began in 2000 when Darwish took a job with the Iraqi Interests Section at the Algerian Embassy.

Documents seized by U.S. troops after the March 2003 invasion of Iraq showed that Darwish was paid by Saddam's intelligence service for "assistance," according to the indictment.

A public defender, Katherine Newberger, declined comment after representing Darwish at the proceeding.